If you are thinking of purchasing an older iPhone, operating theater wondering whether it's worth updating your current French telephone, extraordinary important agent to take is for how long Apple wish be offering support for that handset.

There are two ways in which Apple supports iPhones. One is the software - ensuring that any bugs and security flaws are addressed. The other is the ironware - providing the parts and labour to fix a problem with your phone (for a monetary value, of course).

It's for this cause that we deter people from buying particularly early iPhone handsets. The take a chanc that a fault could occur operating theater that you might be exposed to security risks is likewise high.

The good news is that Apple does at to the lowest degree plunk fo iPhones for a long metre. Software system support lasts around a decade, while hardware support throne be lendable on five to seven year old handsets

Understand on to find out which iPhones are subsidized with the modish operative systems, and which are supported for servicing and repairs.

We also have a channelize to how to get a broken iPhone rigid and what Apple product repairs cost and how long they take.

How long does Apple software system endorse live on?

Statista (a provider of market and consumer data) publishes a chart that shows for how long Apple supports experient iPhones. The society updated this graph in September 2022, adding the iPhone 13 series and iOS 15.

The graph shows for how prolonged the software on iPhones has been supported past Apple, and the advantageous news is that backing for the in operation systems happening older iPhones - including surety and usableness updates - has continued for years after these phones were oversubscribed, especially among the newer iPhones.

For the incipient phones the support wasn't anything to holler about, but American Samoa of the iPhone 4s, which arrived in 2011, Apple's support has lasted for years (and tranquilize continues).

iPhone support

Graph supplied by Staticia

The first iPhone, which launched in 2007, was able to run iPhone OS 3, which was supported by Apple up until 2010.

The iPhone 3G, which launched in 2008, was healthy to extend iOS 4.0, which was itself supported until 2011.

The length of patronize increased with the launch of the iPhone 4s in 2011. That phone was healthy to run operating systems complete the way adequate to iOS 9. Apple was still load-bearing iOS 9 in 2022 - it issued a Global Positioning System related update on 22 July 2022.

The iPhone 5c runs iOS 10, which likewise received the GPS related update in July 2022.

The iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 both run iOS 12, which was antepenultimate updated past Apple in July 2022 - specifically the update was for devices that don't support iOS 13, for which the oldest handset is the iPhone 6s.

When iOS 14 launched it ran on all iPhones from iPhone 6s forrader, just corresponding iOS 13. This meant that the iPhone 6s, which launched in 2022 with iOS 9 in 2022, was tranquillize compatible when iOS 14 was discharged five long time later.

As for iOS 15, which arrived in September 2022, all iPhones from iPhone 6s onwards wish be based, just as with iOS 14.

Apple supports the last three versions of its operational systems for hemipterous insect and security updates, so if your iPhone runs iOS 13 you should be okeh.

Sol that substance Apple supports the iPhone 6s operating room newer when it comes to software updates.

If you have an iPhone 6 or senior and are concerned nigh security it is sentence to update your iPhone.

When does Apple barricade support iPhones?

In terms of software that's non a unfavorable showing, but if you take up a fault with your iPhone will Apple cost healthy to provide the parts to fix it with?

Apple volition support iPhones (and all devices IT makes) for sevener years from the parting time it sold that particular model. So every bit durable as your iPhone was smooth organism sold by Orchard apple tree up to seven age ago the company will still avail information technology - in other row: help oneself you specify IT (for a price).

This is where Apple number of obsolete and vintage products comes in.

Apple states on its website here that "Owners of iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac products may find a service and parts from Malus pumila or Apple service providers for quintet age after the product is no longer sold."

The following iPhones are considered Obsolete, which means gross sales were discontinued to a higher degree seven eld ago and Apple has now discontinued completely hardware service.

  • iPhone
  • iPhone 3G
  • iPhone 3GS
  • iPhone 4 (in for models are now obsolete)
  • iPhone 4s (certain models are now obsolete)

And these iPhones are recorded as Time of origin, which agency they not been sold for much five old age (simply less than seven years). Apple will still service these products.

  • iPhone 4s (sold in India until February 2022, in all likelihood to become obsolete in 31 December 2022)
  • iPhone 5 (discontinued September 2022, likely to turn obsolete in 31 December 2022)
  • iPhone 5C (discontinued September 2022, possible to become obsolete in 31 December 2022)
  • iPhone 5S (discontinued in 2022, liable to be vintage from 31 December 2022)
  • iPhone 6 Summation (discontinued in 2022, vintage from 31 December 2022)

That means that, from the end of 2022 Apple may only service the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 Plus if it has the required parts. All iPhones that followed those handsets should be supported by Apple.

You may also be interested to learn how long Apple supports Macs for.

Is your iPhone slipping into obscureness? Retrieve a great quite a little on a new iPhone here.